mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk ˈmä-ləsk How to pronounce mollusk (audio)
variants or mollusc
: any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (such as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell
broadly : shellfish
molluscan adjective
or less commonly molluskan

Examples of mollusk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The eight-armed mollusks are notoriously curious and border on mischievous. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 4 July 2024 The researchers also found crushed mollusk shells and various stone tools, believed to be used in the dye-making process. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 26 June 2024 The designer also worked his signature sawtooth stripe into fabrics and created a wallpaper mural called Pygmalion, a grand, theatrical design with curtains, a classical temple, giant artichokes, Rococo dolphins, fennel, garlic bulbs and mollusk shells, strings of pearls and feathers. Samantha Conti, WWD, 25 June 2024 After a one-two punch from nasty hurricanes, Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022, the Florida population of the mollusk took a nosedive. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for mollusk 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mollusk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French mollusque, from New Latin Mollusca, from Latin, neuter plural of molluscus thin-shelled (of a nut), from mollis

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mollusk was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near mollusk

Cite this Entry

“Mollusk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mollusk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

mollusk

noun
mol·​lusk
variants or mollusc
: any of a large phylum of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, and octopuses) with a soft body lacking segments and usually enclosed in a shell containing calcium
molluscan adjective
also molluskan

Medical Definition

mollusk

noun
mol·​lusk
variants or mollusc
: any invertebrate animal of the phylum Mollusca
molluscan adjective
also molluskan

More from Merriam-Webster on mollusk

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